Interactive pet toy with pliable mounting apparatus

ABSTRACT

The interactive toy has a body and means for attaching the body to an object including a part of the user&#39;s body, clothing or the like. The body includes a rigid hollow plastic shell with a variety of external touch sensors. The shell contains and protects the electronic components, including a micro-controller connected to the sensors, and to a speaker, vibrator and LED light sources. A fabric layer covers the shell. The attaching means takes the form of a tail. The tail includes a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer. One end of the wire is fixed to the shell such that the tail extends from the back of the body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy. The toy generates various sounds and lights in response to the sensor outputs.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed on Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/630,989, filed Feb. 15, 2018, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electronic stuffed animal toys, and more specifically, to an interactive stuffed animal pet-like toy with a pliable mounting apparatus.

2. Background of the Invention

The present invention is the only line of on-the-go collectible kittens with abilities to love, to purr, snuggle and cuddle with soft twist-on tails. Other inventions, such as Fingerlings (Interactive Pet) have a molded tail but it cannot be manipulated.

There are several ways to approach the attachment of an interactive pet to a cylindrical like object, rail, or post using metal wire, slap wrap, elastic band or a molded plastic part with a male and female connection point.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to use a pliable part, such as a tail, including a wire surrounded by a soft fabric layer. The part is coupled to and extends from a spherical plastic body which houses the electronics of the toy. The body is also situated within a soft fabric layer.

The fabric layer of the tail may be the same as or different than the fabric layer of the body. However, it is preferable that the fabric layer of the tail be visually coordinated with the fabric layer of the body. The benefit of the tail coupled to a spherical body allows the interactive toy to have multiple and unique ways for the user to creatively display/connect their device onto other objects or parts of the body.

The combination of soft fabric exterior, plastic inner body, cute character and then assembled to the mounting part (such as a fabric encased pliable wire) allows the product and play pattern to provide for more than one character to be played with, connected together at the same time or while in motion.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an interactive toy is provided including a body and means for attaching the body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like. The toy body includes a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy. A fabric layer covers the shell. The attaching means comprising a tail. The tail includes a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer. The wire has an end fixed to the shell such that the tail extends from the body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy.

The touch sensors include a nose tack switch.

The body has a simulated eye including a light source actuated by depressing one of the touch sensors. The light source may be a LED. The eye includes a pupil surround by a translucent rim which is illuminated by the light source when the light source is actuated. The translucent rim preferably includes glitter.

The toy also includes a sound generator actuated by depressing one of the touch sensors. The sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated.

The body has a simulated ear. The touch sensors include a pressure sensitive switch proximate said ear.

The body has a back. The touch sensors include a pressure sensitive switch on the back of the body.

The light source and the sound generator may be simultaneously actuated by depressing one of the touch sensors.

The electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of the toy. The sound generator is actuated by the motion sensor to create a sound.

The electronics may also include a vibration motor. The vibration motor is actuated by depressing one of touch sensors.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an interactive toy is provided including a body and means for attaching the body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like. The body includes a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors. The body is adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy. A fabric layer covers the shell. The attaching means may take the form of a tail. The tail includes a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer. The wire has an end fixed to the shell such that the tail extends from the body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy. The touch sensors include a nose tack switch. The body has a simulated eye including a LED light source and a sound generator simultaneously actuated by depressing the nose tack switch. The eye includes a pupil surround by a translucent rim with glitter. The rim is illuminated by the light source when the light source is actuated. The sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated.

The body includes a simulated ear and the touch sensors includes a pressure sensitive switch proximate the ear.

The body has a back. The touch sensors include a pressure sensitive switch on the Back of the body.

The electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of the toy. The sound generator may be actuated by the motion sensor to create a sound.

The electronics may include a vibration motor actuated by depressing one of the touch sensors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, the present invention relates to an interactive pet toy with a pliable mounting apparatus as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view drawing of the present invention and its components arranged in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a multiple perspective view of the shell and wire of present invention in its preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a multiple perspective view of the present invention in use in numerous applications;

FIG. 4 is a front and rear view of the present invention in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the tail of preferred embodiment showing the wire encased in the fabric layer;

FIG. 6 is multiple perspective view of the present invention as it appears in fabric layers of a variety of colors and patterns;

FIG. 7 is a lay out drawing of various portions of the fabric layers; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the electronics of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

The figures of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is an interactive stuffed animal pet-like toy with pliable mounting features. In its preferred embodiment, the present invention is comprised of a hollow plastic body or shell which houses the electronics of the toy. The body is enclosed in an exterior fabric layer. The body is coupled to an elongated pliable part that can be manipulated/formed/attached or connected to another object. The pliable part allows the toy to twist, bend, loop, hang or wrap around surfaces such as an arm, backpack, post, rail, handle or strap.

Key features of the present invention include a 3.5-inch soft plush body twist-on wire tail, big loving light-up glittered eyes, and a vibration purr. The electronics of the toy include touch and motion sensors which offer advanced reactions to motion and touch along with 40+ responses and two available modes.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the various functions of the present invention including a mounted RGB LED behind the glitter eyes which lights up the eyes, touch sensors (a Nose Tact Switch, a touch sensor located proximate an ear, a touch sensor located in the middle of back), a battery, a vibration motor, a motion sensor and a speaker. The vibration motor causes the toy to shake, along with singing and purring sounds emitted by the speaker.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of how the toy of the present invention can be placed securely onto, but is not limited to a user's hair (1), behind the ear (2), as a necklace (3), as a bracelet (4), on the ankle (5), on a bag or key chain (6), through a belt loop (7) or a pocket button hole (8).

More specifically, as seen in the figures, the present invention is an interactive toy including a body 10 and means for attaching the body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like. The toy body may take the form of the head of a creature or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the body takes the form the head of a kitten, including the eyes, nose and ears of a kitten.

The body includes a rigid hollow plastic shell 12 having external touch sensors. The shell is adapted to enclose and protect the electronic components of the toy. As seen in FIG. 2, shell 12 may be formed of two halves which when assembled surround the electronics.

A fabric layer 14 covers the shell. The attaching means preferably takes the form a tail 16. As seen in FIG. 5, the tail includes a pliable wire 18 encased in a fabric layer 20.

Fabric layer 14 and fabric layer 20 may have the same appearance or the appearance of those fabric layers may be coordinated in color, pattern or the like, as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows a variety of different possible fabric combinations.

As seen in FIG. 2, one end of wire 18 is fixed to the back of shell 12 such that the tail 16 extends from the body 10. Tail 16 can be configured to engage a variety of different objects to support the toy, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The exterior of body 10 has a number of touch sensors which control the electronics. The touch sensors may include a nose tack switch 22, a touch sensor 24 located proximate one of the ears, and a touch sensor 26 situated at the back of the body. Each of those sensors has an output which is connected to a different one of the inputs of a programmable micro-controller 28 located within shell 12.

A motion sensor 29, which may take the form of an accelerometer, is situated within shell 12. The motion sensor output is connected to an input of micro-controller 28. The motion sensor causes the micro-controller to generate an output, when motion is detected. For example, the output may cause a speaker 30 to emit a particular sound or an LED 32 to be energized to emit light. Speaker 30 is situated with shell 12.

Body has at least one simulated eye 34. As seen in the Figures, eye 34 has a dark or black pupil surrounded by a translucent rim 36. Rim 36 may have glitter particles therein. LED 32 is located behind eye 34 such that when the LED is energized, the rim 36 of the eye lights up. The LED may be energized by actuation of any of the touch sensors and/or by the motion detector, depending upon the programming of the micro-controller.

The micro-controller 28 selects one of a number of the pre-recorded sounds for speaker 30 to emit, depending upon which input device is actuated. For example, depressing the nose tact switch 22 may cause the generation of a purring sound whereas actuation of motion sensor 29 may cause the speaker to emit a meowing sound. Actuation of sensor 24 proximate the ear may cause the generation of a singing sounds.

The LED light source 32 and the sound generation through the speaker 30 may take place simultaneously as a result of the actuated of a single touch sensor. For example, depression of the nose tact switch 22 may cause the eyes to light up and a purring sound to be generated at the same time.

The electronics may also include a vibration motor 38 located within shell 12. Vibration motor 38 is connected to an output of the micro-controller 28. The vibration motor may be actuated by depressing one of touch sensors or by the motion sensor.

A battery 40 is provided within the shell to power the micro-controller and the various components connected to the micro-controller.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims: 

We claim:
 1. An interactive toy comprising a body and means for attaching said body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like, said body comprising a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy, and a fabric layer covering said shell, said attaching means comprising a tail, said tail comprising a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer, said wire having an end fixed to said shell such that said tail extends from said body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy.
 2. The toy of claim 1 wherein said touch sensors comprise a nose tack switch.
 3. The toy of claim 1 wherein said body has a simulated eye including a light source actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors.
 4. The toy of claim 2 wherein said light source is a LED.
 5. The toy of claim 4 wherein said eye comprises a pupil surround by a translucent rim which is illuminated by said light source when said light source is actuated.
 6. The toy of claim 5 wherein said translucent rim comprises glitter.
 7. The toy of claim 1 further comprising a sound generator actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors.
 8. The toy of claim 7 wherein said sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated.
 9. The toy of claim 1 wherein said body has a simulated ear and said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch proximate said ear.
 10. The toy of claim 1 wherein said body has a back and said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch on said back.
 11. The toy of claim 1 wherein said body has a simulated eye including a light source and a sound generator actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors.
 12. The toy of claim 1 wherein said electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of said toy.
 13. The toy of claim 12 further comprising a sound generator is actuated by said motion sensor to create a sound.
 14. The toy of claim 1 wherein said electronics include a vibration motor.
 15. The toy of claim 14 wherein said vibration motor is actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors.
 16. An interactive toy comprising a body and means for attaching said body to an object including a part of the user's body, clothing or the like, said body comprising a hollow plastic shell having external touch sensors adapted to enclose the electronic components of the toy, and a fabric layer covering said shell, said attaching means comprising a tail, said tail comprising a pliable wire encased in a fabric layer, said wire having an end fixed to said shell such that said tail extends from said body and can be configured to engage an object to support the toy, wherein said touch sensors comprise a nose tack switch, wherein said body has a simulated eye including a LED light source and a sound generator simultaneously actuated by depressing said nose tack switch, wherein said eye comprises a pupil surround by a translucent rim with glitter which is illuminated by said light source when said light source is actuated and said sound generator creates meowing, singing and/or purring sounds when actuated.
 17. The toy of claim 16 further comprising a simulated ear, wherein said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch proximate said ear.
 18. The toy of claim 16 wherein said body has a back, wherein said touch sensors comprise a pressure sensitive switch on said back of said body.
 19. The toy of claim 16 wherein said electronics include a motion sensor actuated by motion of said toy, wherein said a sound generator is actuated by said motion sensor to create a sound.
 20. The toy of claim 16 wherein said electronics include a vibration motor actuated by depressing one of said touch sensors. 